We Love Target Style Challenge: Tops

Happy Memorial Day for my U.S. readers, and for all the men, women, and animals who have been in service to our country.

Today, I’m combining two style challenges in one! This week starts off the “We ♥ Target” style challenge hosted by Whitney @ Along the Lines of Style and Heidi @ Literate and Stylish. Monday’s theme is tops, and while going through my past posts featuring Tar-jay, I kept smiling at the pics featuring my kitty t-shirt.

It’s also “Inspiration Monday” time, with Julianna Hough serving up a casual chic look.

Inspiration:

Inspiration Monday – May 27, 2013 – Julianne Hough

Interpretation:

I simply switched out the order of the colors, putting the red on the bottom, the denim up top, and the white in my t-shirt. And this combo is totally my style:  comfy + classic + a bit of quirk.

Sam and I had fun taking pics on a quick outing to our local park. Plus, this is for you, Erin, as you recently requested more pics of my red pants! My center-parted ponytail was inspired by Marion @ Marionberry Style.

Details:  Kitty t-shirt:  Jason Wu for Target, last winter  /  Red ankle pants:  Macy’s, gift-carded this winter  /  Denim jacket:  Kohl’s, old  /  Flats:  Payless, last summer  /  Pearl hoop earrings:  Gift from husband, Abu Dhabi

Hop scotch alert! Both Sam and I saw an opportunity when we spied a chalk outline of this classic kids’ game.

And walking back, I spied a tree swing outside a house that borders the park. Another opportunity for fun photos — and to further relive my childhood!

Below are the various ways I’ve worn this kitty t-shirt. Interesting how I’ve always paired it with denim…

Look 1  |  Look 2  |  Look 3  |  Look 4  | Look 5 (this post)

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Link ups:  We Love Target Style Challenge  /  Inspiration Monday  /  YOLO Mondays  /  Monday Mingle  /  My Style Monday

Related articles:

• Denim Jackets: Try The Trend Like Ashley Benson & Jamie Chung (hollywoodlife.com)
• Summer Style Watch (sweetcats01.wordpress.com)
• 3 Ways To Wear Denim – Vest, Jacket, Shirt (myfashioncents.com)
• Jason Wu for Target Collection Photos (myfashioncents.com)

Colorblocking stripes

Happy Wednesday! I  wore this outfit this past Monday, the most recent day of sunshine before we were plunged back into a cycle of rainy weather. The combo of blue, white, and green felt fresh for spring, inspired in part by this look.

And based on several recent positive comments about headbands and headscarves (thank you!), I added this striped headscarf at the last minute. And I’m so glad I did!

Details:  Colorblocked cardigan:  Target, last spring  /  Striped tank top:  Gap, gift-carded last summer  /  Tan trousers:  The Limited, Fall 2011  /  Denim wedges:  Payless, last summer  /  Striped scarf:  Thrifted in Texas, old  /  Drop earrings:  Lia Sophia, gift, old

Link ups:  WIWW  /  Wardrobe Wednesday  /  Whatever Works Wednesday  /  Dress for the Day  /  I Feel Pretty Linkup  /  Trending Pretty Wednesday

Related articles

• Blue stripes + florals (librarianforlifestyle.wordpress.com)
• Springtime pattern-mixing (librarianforlifestyle.wordpress.com)
• Floral Headband / D.I.Y. Project (abeautifulmess.typepad.com)
• Refashion Inspiration: Colorblocking (christinadesignsart.wordpress.com)

Inspiration Monday on a Tuesday

Today’s “Inspiration Monday” style challenge is coming to you a day late, on a Tuesday, and features an outfit I wore this past Friday. (Any other ways I can incorporate more days of the week up in here? Lemme know! )

This week’s inspiration comes to you via the eternally cool Gwen Stefani.

Inspiration:

Inspiration Monday – May 20, 2013 – Gwen Stefani

Interpretation:

This one may not look too similar at first, but stick with me. I wanted to turn Gwen’s cool casual look into a “casual Friday” look for work.

Gwen’s look is a mix of monochrome (black) and denim (vest), with a pop of yellow (shoes). My look is also a mix of monochrome (navy) and denim (skinny jeans), with a pop of yellow (scarf).  Big sunglasses? Check. Bright lipstick? Check.

And I like that Gwen’s outfit totally matches her rock chick style, while my outfit reflects my more classic style.

Details:  Navy blazer:  Macy’s, winter  /  Skinny jeans:  Target, last winter  /  Nude wedges:  Payless, gift-carded last winter  /  White sleeveless sweater:  Kmart?, old  /  Scarf:  Echo, c/o giveaway  /  Tote bag:  Payless, new  /  Pearl drop earrings:  Bridesmaid’s gift, old

And let’s talk hair. Like Gwen, I went for an easy updo with maximum impact. Check out the Mad Men-like fabulousness below, y’all. And so easy! It’s just a ponytail with the ends not pulled all the way through, and then wrapped around the base and pinned. It’s a good style for those I’m-going-to-eke-out-another-day-without-washing-my-hair kind of days. Y’all know what I’m talking about. And Sam caught the hairdo at its widest possible camera angle, so it didn’t look quite so puffy in real life.

And finally, I’ve waxed rhapsodic about my Revlon “Just Bitten” lip stains before. But I wanted to show y’all what this lip stain looks like at the end of the day. I took the pic below around 5pm, after 9 straight hours of this lip stain — no touch-ups and after lunch and multiple cups of coffee and water refills throughout the day. This bright pink color is called “Lovesick.”

Link ups:  Inspiration Monday  /  Style Sessions  /  Real Girl Style  /  Anything + Everything Blog Hop

Related articles

• Variations on a theme (librarianforlifestyle.wordpress.com)
• Gwen’s love for Zara. (poppys-style.com)
• Inspiration Monday: Classic combo, denim + white (librarianforlifestyle.wordpress.com)
• Gwen Stefani Print Pants (celebstyle.typepad.com)

Pops of yellow

Today’s look was inspired by Marionberry Style’s Trend of the Month Link-up, with this month’s challenge being the color yellow.

In all honesty, I’ve never warmed toward the color yellow because it’s never felt like the best color for my pale skin tone. However, I love how this top sets off its pops of yellow with cool grey, white, and black tones. I was originally going to pair this peplum top with a tan pencil skirt, but for some reason, this morning I woke up with the idea to set up off the yellow with a plummy maroon instead, with the skirt and the skinny belt. Looking at the pics, I think it was a good choice.

I’ve discovered a new trick of securing my skinny belts with a small hair elastic, as seen above. And I spent my Sunday night with my new awl, punching in a couple of extra holes on all of my skinny belts. Good times.

Details:  Peplum top:  JCPenney, gift-carded last month  /  Pencil skirt:  LOFT, last fall  /  Black cardigan:  Target, last summer  /  Flats:  Payless, last summer  /  Skinny belt:  Fall fashion swap  /  Silver circle earrings:  Lia Sophia, gift from my husband, old  /  Tan-and-black tote:  Payless, new

Link ups:  Trend of the Month Link-up  /  WIWW  /  Wardrobe Wednesday  /  Whatever Works Wednesday  /  Dress for the Day  /  I Feel Pretty Linkup  /  Trending Pretty Wednesday  /  What I Wore to Work  /  Third Thursday Threads

Related articles:

• Fashion Monday: JCrew Telegraph Pencil Skirt (thebrooklynwoman.wordpress.com)
• Style Strategy: Can I Wear Peplum to Work? (forbes.com)
• The One Hundred: 65 Pencil Skirt (inaworldofbees.com)
• Peplum: I Wish I Could Quit You (desperatelyseekingsparkle.com)
• Black and White All Over (walkinginprettyshoes.com)
• Class to Night Out: Printed Pencil Skirt (collegefashion.net)
• Pop of Neon (baublestobubbles.com)
• Fashion Friday: LBD – Office Edition (rubysnpurls.wordpress.com)
• Adding a little sunshine into my closet (librarianforlifestyle.wordpress.com)

Inspiration Monday: Classic combo, denim + white

Today’s “Inspiration Monday” challenge was great for a sunny Saturday morning of running errands. And Emmy Rossum’s combo is so classic, my interpretation is pretty straight-forward this week.

Inspiration:

Inspiration Monday – May 13, 2013 – Emmy Rossum

Interpretation:

I donned my mom’s vintage ’60s dress again, adding my darker denim jacket and my striped canvas flats. And to echo Emmy’s bright orange bag, I grabbed my yellow canvas tote bag, my go-to bag for the weekend this spring.

One of our errands took us by the neighborhood of Ladd’s Addition in SE Portland, a beautiful residential area that revolves around a large roundabout that also serves as a small park. Sam and I had fun exploring the little niches around the park.

And part of that fun included making silly poses, happily captured by Sam.

Details:  Denim jacket:  Old Navy, gift-carded last fall  /  White sheath dress:  My mom’s from the ’60s  /  Striped canvas flats:  Target, spring  /  Silver earrings:  Gift from husband on my last birthday  /  Canvas tote bag:  Gift from my mom

Link ups:   Inspiration Monday  /  Copycat Linkup  /  YOLO Mondays  /  Monday Mingle  /  My Style Monday  /  Style Sessions  /  Real Girl Style  /  Anything + Everything Blog Hop

Related articles:

• As Seen On: Emmy Rossum + Jamie Chung (explife.express.com)
• Inspiration Monday: Stripes + glasses (librarianforlifestyle.wordpress.com)